Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Petronas Twin Towers: At the Roof of Kuala Lumpur City

Just when I thought that we will only be having photo ops at the
grounds of Petronas Twin Towers, we were led to the concourse level where tickets were given for a visit to its higher floors. A guided tour awaited us inside the tallest building from 1998 to 2004. And the guide
mentioned that we'll be going to the Skybridge, then the Observation
Deck. It was a surprise, a pleasant one.

I consider Kuala Lumpur City in Malaysia to be my second home because
it became a hub for cheap flights (thanks to AirAsia) plus the fact that I really
love Malaysian food. So when an invitation came for me to join a bunch of media
people to tour around KL, I didn’t let it pass; mee goreng and kopi ais are
comfort food for me like chickenjoy and
jolly spaghetti.

So together with eight media people, we embarked on a four-day trip
that was full of surprises that made me love the city even more.

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We left Manila on a Thursday afternoon which allowed us to rest when we
arrived in KL late in the evening. Our second day was phenomenal as we got to
have an exclusive tour of RedQ, AirAsia’s corporate hub, located near the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2). We had a great time going around their wonderful open-space layout offices. We then went to the
city for a half day tour on some key spots around Kuala Lumpur City.

The Royal Museum, or Old
Istana Negara, was our first stop. Perched on a slope of a hill, the structure
was used as the former residence of the Supreme King of Malaysia. It was
replaced with a new national palace in 2011 and was converted to a royal
museum. We didn’t have enough time to get inside and just viewed the museum
from the sentry where it was secured by royal guards.

Royal Guard at the Royal Museum

Our next stop was the National
Monument. Officially opened on February 8, 1966, the memorial park is
dedicated to the people who died during World War II and Malayan Emergency.
It houses a cenotaph, with the names of the fallen engraved on the plaques, and
the world’s tallest bronze freestanding non-religious sculpture grouping. Our
lovely driver cum guide, Hindra, told us of the park's significance before letting us explore it on our own.

Kuala Lumpur's National Monument

We then headed for a quick stop at the Old Railway Station, built in Moorish style, and National Mosque (Masjid Negara Kuala
Lumpur). We had 15 minutes for photo ops and although I wanted to check out the
mosque, we arrived past the visiting hours.

Kuala Lumpur's National Mosque

The group were herded next to KL
City Gallery. I've
been here before and as far as I can remember, we paid no fee to get inside.
This time, we were asked to shell out MYR10 (US$2.34) each for the entrance
fee, half of which can be spent at the gift shop or café after the tour.

KL City Gallery is famous for its 3D models

The KL City
Gallery’s structure is a landmark in itself as the heritage building has been
around since1899. Located at Merdeka Square, it houses a collection of old
photographs and artefacts about Kuala Lumpur and is also a one-stop shop for
tourist information and souvenir shops.

Merdeka PNB 118 will be the tallest building in Malaysia (and third in the world) when completed in 2024.

We had a quick stop at Kuala Lumpur Tower for photo ops and then headed to our dinner
place.

Saloma
Theatre Restaurant was next on the
itinerary for our buffet dinner. Located within the premises of Malaysia
Tourism Centre, the restaurant is famous for showcasing Malaysia’s culture through its food and traditional cultural performances coming from all of the country’s
fourteen states.

My plate was filled with satay, roti, prawn mee noodle soup and more. After which, we
enjoyed a show that featured traditional Malay dances.

Saloma Theatre Restaurant

The next day, we headed to the Batu Caves, then to a nice Chinese restaurant for lunch.

We went to Kuala Lumpur City Centre and gathered
at the Concourse Level where we were handed tickets for Petronas Twin Towers' Skybridge and
Observation Deck. My eyes were glued on the ticket as this was a sweet surprise.
I have been to the tallest building in the world (from 1998 to 2004) a dozen or
so times but haven’t actually thought of going up to see the panoramic view of
Kuala Lumpur.

The most photographed icon of Malaysia

The 88-storey
Petronas Twin Towers is truly a crown jewel for Kuala Lumpur and the whole of
Malaysia. Rising 451.9 meters above ground, the structure accurately captures
the country’s aspiration to be a global leader while preserving the nation’s
heritage. The vision is very evident on its design; the outline which resembles
the letter “M” for Malaysia, the skybridge that balances the country’s past and
future, the tower’s floor plate which was based on simple Islamic geometric
forms, Malaysian traditional weaving was reflected on the patterns on the
foyer, and more.

BlissfulGuro and PinoyAdventurista

The scheduled time was at 4:30pm and we were
allowed to enter fifteen minutes before that.Together with another group, we were led to the 41st floor for the first
part of the tour.

The Skybridge is one of the prominent features
of the Petronas Twin Towers which connect the two towers. Our group was given around
fifteen minutes to stay here.

Skybridge at Petronas Twin Towers

I was in awe as I stood at the midpoint of the skybridge. I could
literally see the people on the ground as they gaze upon this architectural
marvel. It felt weird, as I used to be the one watching the towers from below. And seeing
everything from a new standpoint felt incredible.

It feels weird to be on top

We were then ushered to the 86th floor for the
Observation Deck. I love how they limit the guests so as to not
fill the whole space. The rest of the group gathered on the corners where the
other tower can be seen. I veered away from them and found my own
little corner and sat on the floor; alone at the other end of the deck.

Observation Deck at Petronas Twin Towers

I was speechless for minutes, but I realized that I have to go to the other side to get a view of the
other tower. Again, I felt this weird feeling of seeing everything from above
and not from below. Surprisingly though, I loved every bit of it ‘coz usually, I’m
the type who loves to see nice things from below (like admiring the snow-capped
Annapurna Mountain in Nepal from the ground and not hiking up kind-of-thing).

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The group went back to the
Concourse Level through the uber fast lift. A few lingered along the towers before going back to our van. It was six in the afternoon but
the heat felt like it was around three. Our Petronas Twon Towers hangover followed us even as we drove
back to our hotel.

I love you more today KL, than yesterday.

Every steel and glass that was put up like
puzzle pieces was in perfect precision. The Petronas Twin Towers wasn't just
made to be the tallest building per se, but a great architectural marvel that
puts Malaysia on the map with its vision to be a global leader without neglecting
its traditions and culture. A truly inspiring visit to one of my favorite
cities in Asia, which I’m sure will not be the last.

This trip has
been made possible by AirAsia. AirAsia
has daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from Manila, Cebu and Davao.